On the 13th anniversary of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Jean Paul de la Fuente – Director of the New7Wonders Foundation, in a video interview in Spanish with Visit7Wonders, recalled with emotion that both to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World (in July 2007) and the New 7 Wonders of Nature (in November 2011), millions and millions of people around the planet, voted through the New 7 Wonders platform to choose their 7 favorite places.
Jean Paul De la Fuente commented that who created this concept of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World, was Bernard Weber, a Swiss-Canadian, who wanted to modernize this list of antiquity. And with that historic achievement with more than 100 million votes from all over the planet to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World, Weber decided to ask the world to also vote for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
“It was something incredible and historical, because in the case of Natural Wonders, there were more than 500 million votes from around the world, and this will forever be part of modern history, it is what Bernard Weber calls: Global Memory, seven things that we will always remember in the world,” said De la Fuente.
Unique places chosen by people
Regarding the question of what makes each of the New 7 Wonders of Nature unique or special, the director of New7Wonders explained that “each of the places has its own assets, its own interest, its own unique elements, its beauties. And there are many places like this in the world, but these are the 7 places, which were jointly voted and chosen by the world, and it is that element of participation that makes the unique difference of these places, which gives it the relevance, a special presence and a unique value in the world that is seen through what has finally been, what is called the wonder effect.”
And he added “the wonder effect is a term that we have not invented, independent research saw that the difference in socioeconomic impact of being elected one of the 7 Wonders, implies a growth in tourism of more than double when one compares it with any other strategy. So that’s also one of the unique values of being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature”.
He also stressed that the two campaigns involved the first global global vote, “it was the first thing for which everyone united to vote.”
Chosen by more than 500 million votes from all over the planet, the New 7 Wonders of Nature are: 1) Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), 2) Jeju Island (South Korea), 3) Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines), 4) Komodo Island (Indonesia), 5) Table Mountain (South Africa), 6) Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), 7) Amazonia (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela).
Iguazu Falls
Jean Paul de la Fuente gave as an example of the wonder effect, the Iguazú Falls, “until the campaign of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Iguazú Falls were not so well known. For the world it may be that they were the third most recognized waterfalls. And obviously now it has a much greater presence, which is highlighted by people who have been lucky enough to visit the other two: Niagara Falls and also Victoria Falls in Africa. Today people know and recognize that the Iguazú Falls have the right to be called Wonder, because they have aspects that none of the other waterfalls have”.
The director of New7Wonders stressed that “that was also a historical achievement in Argentina and Brazil, also with the neighbors of Paraguay, who in one way or another, also participated in the campaign to ensure this achievement that will be recorded in history. And the people who are from there know what has changed: the before and after.”
And he added “because what happens is that the people who participated by voting, then those who can, want to visit these places and then they have as an emotional link with the place and that link does what this wonder factor is, this growth of incredible tourism that is not seen anywhere else.”
Caring for the environment
Jean Paul de la Fuente – Director of the New7Wonders Foundation – emphasized the care of the environment and the sustainable management that each of these places must have, “one of the themes of being elected Wonder, is like a great illuminating shining light that is placed on top of the Wonder and you can’t just say well, there is more tourism and more growth without thinking, and not also think about environmental issues, infrastructure issues, employment, education, and everything around success. There are many places that have just changed the way they manage the attractions to make it better. And there’s still a lot to do, surely, but of course, it’s easier to do things successfully than without success”.
In that sense, he also said that “it is important to grow on top of success and make it more positive also in every way. There is a place where there are total changes. I am lucky enough to visit all these places after many years that they have been voted on and you can see the phenomenal change, and that seems very, very positive to me.”
“And there are also places that have small challenges and we are making an exchange with those places so that they can just take advantage of ideas and solutions that are made in other Wonders and can also apply them to their own Wonders. That’s also a great job, and it’s a part, I think about what you also do from Visit7Wonders,” he said.
Disapproved
On the other hand, the Director of the New7Wonders Foundation referred to people looking for world records to visit the New 7 Wonders of the World in the shortest possible time.
In reference to this he said that his opinion is quite negative, “in the sense that it seems to me that they have no value, apart from the moment itself to say I have done it more quickly. I don’t see anything as worse as this concept of going, taking the photo and running away, I think it’s very ugly. I value the opposite, if someone tells me: I want to visit the New 7 Wonders created by the human being or the natural ones, and go for a week to each one, that can be. That can be very very interesting and something we value.”
And he added “but we officially, even through our social networks, have put as a seal of non-approval or disapproval for this concept, because I find it very ugly. I understand that it may seem fun, but it doesn’t make any sense because it doesn’t recognize the value of places when running to take a picture and leave, that doesn’t bring any added value. And I find it quite ugly, so for us it is something not approved and we see it as very negative. But well, people are going to do whatever they want to do.”
Promote in each of the New 7 Wonders, to the Sister Wonders
Regarding the message he leaves on this 13th anniversary to the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Jean Paul de la Fuente said that “let’s continue working together and valuing what this historical achievement has been. All the wonders have plaques that remember that they have been voted by millions of people. We must take care of those plates, and include in the entire description when the wonders are presented also through the tourism sector, that the guides of the places remember this very important fact, which is a wonder because it was voted and chosen by people around the world.”
And he proposed “I would even advise, which does for example, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature: The Table Mountain in South Africa. They have a small photographic tour in that place, remembering the other Natural Wonders. And that exchange seems to me to have great value. So it may be next year, advise the other Wonders of Nature to put a similar memory also of the other sister wonders, because the positioning and value are reinforced. It is quite simple, and the tourist will also like it very much because some have been lucky enough to visit others, or will want to visit others. But that puts everything in the global context of that historic vote and I think it is very important to do it this way”.
Finally, the Director of the New7Wonders Foundation highlighted the work of Visit7Wonders, “I think the work you have been doing for more than 10 years with Visit7Wonders has been very important, hopefully this will grow as a platform, because also as I say, the exchange between the New 7 Wonders created by man and those of Nature is very important. Let us continue with this important and positive work together, which contributes to the success of all the Wonders”.